Celebrating Clinical Educators and Coordinators Who Go the Extra Mile

The transition from the classroom to the professional workplace isn’t easy for anyone. That’s especially true in health care. It’s one thing for students to go through patient simulations, but it’s a different thing entirely when they have to work with real patients for the first time. Needless to say, the experience can be overwhelming and intimidating.

That’s why clinical educators mean so much to Michener students. Their job is to make that transition as smooth as possible. Clinical coordinators and educators, a network of partners from different hospitals, labs and clinics from across the country, play an integral role in training students to reach their full potential. They work with students to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in the classroom into the clinical setting. As the main point of contact in a clinical placement, they have the power to make a student’s first step into the professional field a positive and welcoming one.

On October 20th, we celebrated Clinical Educators’ Day at Michener. The day was highlighted by an awards ceremony that recognized the best of the best: clinical coordinators and educators who have gone that extra mile in the past year to support their students in clinical placements in ways that are truly amazing.

Among them was Isa Ali, an ultrasound clinical educator from Guelph Medical Imaging. He was one of 12 people who were recognized with an individual Excellence in Clinical Teaching and Supervision Award. For Isa, teaching isn’t about telling students what they need to do or giving them information.

“My students already know everything,” Isa says. “I’m just there to guide and encourage them.”

This has a ring of truth to it for the student who nominated him. “Isa is always encouraging. He radiates positive energy and is always smiling,” she writes in her nomination of Isa. On top of that, the student points out Isa’s natural ability and comfort in a clinical setting. “He is excellent with patients; always going out of his way to make sure the patient is comfortable, satisfied, and at ease.”

That’s something that students notice across the board. When clinical educators are able to connect with their patients, they become positive role models. Students feel inspired when they see a clinical educator engaged in a high level of patient care, which suggests that the future of clinical care is in good hands.